JP2012518883A - Method for controlling a lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention is a method of controlling a lighting system configured as a wireless network having a plurality of operating nodes configured to communicate with a controller, wherein the operating nodes are synchronized with the controller; A step of determining a set of operation nodes arranged in a predetermined operation area from a plurality of operation nodes, and between the controller and the set of operation nodes arranged in the predetermined operation area Estimating a state shift delay based on a maximum communication delay of the plurality of operation nodes, communicating the estimated state shift delay to the plurality of operation nodes, and transmitting a state shift command to the plurality of operation nodes. About. The advantages of the present invention are that state shift visual artifacts are essentially eliminated as time synchronization and timer break matching, and the estimated state shift delay allows multiple nodes to shift states essentially simultaneously. To.

Description

  The present invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting system. The invention also relates to a lighting system adapted to carry out such a method.

  Wireless control of the lighting system is increasingly replacing wired control, for example, reducing installation costs and commissioning attempts. For example, a number of wireless technologies have been developed, including IEEE-802.15.4, Low-Power WiFi, WiFi, Bluetooth, EnOcean, Z-Wave and similar technologies that typically allow for short-range communication. .

  With respect to real-time control of a wireless lighting system, it is desirable to minimize latency when switching the state of the light source nodes of the lighting system. An example of such a lighting system is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2006/0154598, so that a group of light source nodes in a wireless network selectively responds to a notification message from a lighting system controller. Configured, thereby providing a reduced latency for switching of the light source nodes.

  However, in a large-scale wireless lighting system, all light source nodes may not be within communication range with the lighting system controller. Rather, the large-scale lighting system requires that a state shift command from the controller to the light source node be sent between the different light source nodes, and effectively captures different control command reception delays for the different light source nodes. Due to the different nature of the reception delay, the visual impression of state shifts such as wake-up or switch-off illumination is unpleasant in that not all light source nodes shift at the same time. For example, the CSMA / CA mechanism used in 802.15.4 or WiFi to access a radio channel for transmitting packets includes a random "backoff time" that is almost certainly different on each node. , Resulting in some time / delay differences. In addition, different nodes with different processing power, different routes or collisions can result in several different delays.

  Therefore, there is a need for an improved method of providing a controlled state shift in a wireless lighting system that focuses on obtaining simultaneous state shifts of lighting nodes.

  In view of the foregoing needs, the overall object of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling state shifts in a lighting system.

  This and other objects are achieved through a method for controlling a lighting system, the lighting system being configured as a network having a plurality of operational nodes configured to communicate with a controller. The method includes synchronizing the operation node with the controller, determining a set of operation nodes arranged in a predetermined operation area from the plurality of operation nodes, and the predetermined operation. Estimating a state shift delay of the set of operating nodes arranged in the area. The method further comprises communicating the estimated state shift delay and state shift command to the plurality of operation nodes.

  The present invention is based on the insight that each node in the network can be synchronized, for example based on the temporal synchronization of multiple nodes. In summary, the temporal synchronization provides a common notion of time to the plurality of operation nodes, thereby enabling task synchronization, such as light sources controlled by the operation nodes. Of course, other devices, units and the like that can be controlled by the operation node are also possible. In other words, it is possible to synchronize the execution of specific tasks performed by the nodes in the network. Time synchronization between two nodes, i.e. time alignment, is achieved, for example, by estimating the time offset between the two nodes, and the difference in progress between the two clock mechanisms belonging to the two nodes respectively. Give an estimate. The coefficient rate difference is used to maintain a good estimate of the current time of other nodes.

  In addition to the temporal synchronization mechanism, an additional step is the timer round (where the timer round counts from the start value to the end value, and then the timer count is returned to the start value and an interrupt signal is sent. Changes to the underlying timer coefficient behavior at the node to ensure that the evolution of the timer coefficient is synchronized between the different nodes in the sense that the start / end of It is introduction. In other words, this additional step is performed to ensure that timer interruptions occur simultaneously on different nodes. Synchronization of timer interruptions on the operating area is an option to allow simultaneous state shifting of the light source by triggering a command when the timer expires. This can be achieved, for example, by the following method.

  The first node takes a snapshot of its own counter, and the second node takes a snapshot of its own counter. The first node sends its snapshot to the second node, allowing the second node to obtain an offset between itself and the first node. This corrects to allow two nodes to end these counting groups simultaneously. Introduced changes are tracked and can be compensated for during time synchronization (especially when obtaining a time stamp of the node's time, which is the value of the node's local time at a certain moment). Please keep in mind.

  This approach, among other approaches, relating to time synchronization and timer break matching of multiple nodes in the network is described in PH008406EP1, which is hereby fully incorporated by reference. However, other approaches for time synchronization and timer interrupt matching are possible. However, it should be noted that the step of synchronizing the operation node with the controller may not be required each time the method of the present invention is performed because the operation node remains time synchronized even during the OFF mode. It is.

  The network may have, for example, one controller and multiple operation nodes, or alternatively may have multiple controllers and multiple operation nodes. Furthermore, the controller may be connected to one or more nodes.

  Thus, the predetermined operating area may be defined, for example, as any physical area surrounding the controller, such as a single or multiple connected or unconnected rooms. The operation area may be defined by an area that covers a plurality of operation nodes that are visible to a user of the system. Furthermore, the set of operation nodes arranged in a predetermined operation area may be equal to a plurality of operation nodes in the system.

  An advantage of the present invention is that, for example, temporal synchronization and timer break alignment with an estimated state shift delay causes multiple nodes or at least a set of nodes in a predetermined operating area to shift states essentially simultaneously. Is that the visual impression of the state shift can be essentially eliminated (eg when the light source is controlled by the operating node). Another advantage of the present invention is that an essentially simultaneous state shift will reduce the audible effects in such lighting systems. Considering a very large number of controllers, these controllers may be synchronized with each other or may be synchronized with already synchronized nodes in the network.

  In a preferred embodiment, at least one operating node may be configured to control the state shift of at least one light source. In addition, one controller may control one or more light sources.

  Alternatively, the state shift may be communicated and propagated only once to the node, the delay may be encoded such that it cannot be changed at the node, or the delay may be calculated by the working node itself. . Furthermore, different state shift delays may be communicated to different predetermined operating areas. However, all state shift delays may be sent to all nodes and each node is adapted to take into account a dedicated delay.

  Further, the state shift delay is the maximum communication between the state transition time of each operation mode (eg, from OFF to ON) and the set of operation nodes arranged in the predetermined operation area. It may be at least one of the delays. Further, the state shift command may have an operation node specific variable for generating a predetermined state shift pattern. This will allow the introduction of a predetermined visual pattern, for example when switching the light source on and off.

  It may be noted that the maximum communication delay is an estimate that is a sharp deadline, or an estimate that takes into account the working node density, the number of nodes or the physical placement of the nodes, where the estimation Ultimately limited by the state transition time of the node and at least one state shift delay of the maximum communication delay between the controller and the set of operating nodes located within a predetermined operating area.

  The network may be wireless, wired, or a combination thereof. The wireless network may be a mesh network required in larger lighting arrangements, and the wired network may be a DALI network. In the case of a wireless network, the controller and working nodes can have multiple routes that communicate with each other via one hop or multi-hop routes and lead from one node to another. The flexible inventive method allows the state shift delay to be estimated to suit a particular network. For example, state transition time is relevant in a wired network, while communication delay is relevant in a wireless network in addition to state transition time. In the combined network, the operation nodes wired to each other and the operation nodes wirelessly connected to each other are given different state shift delays and still shift their states simultaneously.

  In wireless networks, the state shift delay may instead be an end-to-end average delay, an average delay per hop, a maximum or minimum delay per hop, and so on.

  In a wireless network, it is also possible to define an operation area so that a plurality of operation nodes can be controlled using a predetermined amount of “communication command hops” from the controller to the operation node. is there.

  The state shift may be a request for “wake-up” (eg, switching on) or turning off the light source connected to the working node, and the visual effect of the light source switching to wake-up or off may be synchronized. This is advantageous because the user of the system can experience a simultaneous wake-up or switch-off of all visible light sources as opposed to light sources that wake up at different times and produce the so-called popcorn effect.

  With respect to the starting transition time (eg, wake-up time), this can be estimated based on the type of light source in the lighting system, such as an LED, a fluorescent lamp, and the like.

  Further, the state shift command may include information for controlling at least one of the beam width, color, beam direction, dimming and intensity of the light source. In this manner, the visual effect of the light source can be adjusted and further synchronized depending on the type of light source. Other examples of state shifts may be based on, for example, light curves, light waves, or light shapes.

  Furthermore, at least the set of operation nodes arranged in the predetermined operation area may be adapted to take into account the state shift delay when executing the state shift command. Therefore, an operating node outside the predetermined area may execute a state shift command when it is received (or instead thereafter). This can improve the visual effect of the state shift. For example, each light source in a predetermined operating area such as a room that is visible to the user switching on the lighting system wakes up with an acceptable delay from the time the user turns on the system. On the other hand, remote light sources outside the operating area wake up in an asynchronous manner that is not noticed by the user.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting system having a controller and a plurality of operating nodes adapted to communicate with the controller. The controller initiates a synchronization procedure to synchronize the plurality of operation nodes with the controller, estimates a state shift delay of a set of operation nodes arranged in a predetermined operation area, and determines a maximum communication delay It may be further adapted to communicate to a plurality of operation nodes and to communicate a state shift command to the plurality of operation nodes.

  Furthermore, at least one of the operating nodes has a control circuit for controlling the electrical connection between the light source and the power source. In addition, at least one of the operating nodes may illuminate the light source, such as a means for controlling the frequency provided by the transducer to adjust how quickly the color of the light source can be changed. Having means for controlling the properties;

  Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent when studying the claims and the following description. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that different features of the present invention can be combined to create embodiments other than those described below without departing from the scope of the invention.

  In the following, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying exemplary drawings.

It is a figure which shows an example of the illumination system of this invention. It is a figure which shows an example of the illumination system of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the method of this invention.

  The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which presently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; Rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.

  According to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1, a lighting system 100 is represented to show an exemplary system in which the method of the present invention may be implemented. The lighting system 100 includes a controller 1 and a plurality of light source nodes 2, 3, 4 coupled together to form a network. For simplicity of explanation, there is only one controller 1 and three operating nodes 2, 3, 4 in the lighting system 100. Here, a general-purpose switch for switching the light source ON and OFF or a controller 1 such as a remote control is connected to the light source nodes 2, 3, and 4. In the example shown, the light source nodes 2, 3, 4 have a halogen light source 2, an LED-based lighting unit 3 having a plurality of LED groups, and a fluorescent lamp unit 4. Here, the controller 1 is wirelessly connected to the halogen light source 2 and the LED unit 3, and is connected to the fluorescent lamp unit 4 via a wire. The wired control may be based on the DALI standard, while the wireless control may be based on IEEE-802.15.4, for example. The controller 1 may be adapted to allow multiple interfaces based on different communication technologies, thus allowing such a controller 1 to communicate with different lighting nodes with different communication technologies / interfaces. It should be noted that. Further, the controller 1 may recognize the positions of different types of nodes and different types of nodes in the network.

  The controller 1 is a control circuit 11, which can be programmed to carry out the method of the present invention, a lighting control function, and a state shift of the light source node of the lighting system 100 from the ON and OFF, dimming etc. as described above by the user. May have a user interface 12 that allows the user to initiate User interface 12 may include a user input device such as a button and an adjustable control that generates a signal or voltage to be read by control circuit 11. The voltage may be a digital signal corresponding to high and low digital states. If the voltage is in the form of an analog voltage, an analog-to-digital converter (A / D) may be used to convert the voltage to a usable digital form. The output from the A / D will give a digital signal to the control circuit 11. The control circuit 11 may include a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable digital signal processor, or other programmable device. The control circuit 11 may also or alternatively include an application specific integrated circuit, a programmable gate array, a programmable array logic, a programmable logic device, or a digital signal processor. Where the control circuit 11 includes a programmable device such as the microprocessor or microcontroller described above, the processor may further include computer-executable code that controls the operation of the programmable device.

  The controller 1 has a transmitter / receiver 13 for communicating with the light source nodes 2 and 3 wirelessly connected by an antenna 15. Further, the controller 1 has a DALI driver 14 for communication with the wired light source node 4. Different light source nodes 2, 3 and 4 typically have different state shift transition times. For example, halogen light sources and fluorescent lamps have relatively slow start times when compared to LED units.

  In the example shown, the halogen light source node 2 has a driver 5 outside the actual light source, whereas the driver 6 of the LED unit 3 is integrated. Alternatively, the driving means may be operatively coupled to more than one light source node 2, 3, 4. Various drives and optional control means may be considered here without departing from the general scope and nature of the present disclosure.

  Regarding communication, as indicated by arrows, there are two communication command hops between the controller 1 and the LED unit 3, and there is only one hop between the controller 1 and the halogen light source 2. The communication command hop includes a communication delay. However, wired connections, unlike the individual state shift transition times of such operating nodes, do not introduce communication delays in a similar manner.

  A different view of an exemplary lighting system 200 is given in FIG. The lighting system 200 includes a controller 20 such as a lighting switch for initiating a state shift of a light source, and a plurality of operation nodes 21 to 27, where the light source node is wirelessly connected to a wireless network. . Here, the network is a mesh network required in larger lighting arrangements, such as greenhouse or industrial automation applications. In the illustrated example, an operation node within a certain distance from the controller 20 belongs to the operation area 30. Here, the operation area 30 is defined by the room in which the controller 20 is provided, and the operation node in the room is changed, for example, when lighting is switched on or off as described above or to any other lighting characteristic. Sometimes it is visible to the user of the lighting system 200. Alternatively, the operating area 30 may be defined by an acceptable time delay to turn on the light after the user presses a switch on the controller 20, such as after 100-200 milliseconds. . In other embodiments, the predetermined operating area 30 may include all available light source nodes 21-27 of the lighting system 200, or alternatively, the lighting system 200 is divided into several operating areas. Also good.

  In a mesh network, one communication hop between the controller and the surrounding light source node takes, for example, about 5 milliseconds, whereas each additional hop takes, for example, the processing of receiving a data package. Due to this, approximately 8 milliseconds are required. Therefore, according to this estimation and considering that the approximately 50 millisecond gap between events is not visible to the user, this is approximately 5 to 5 until the user notices the time difference in the state shift of the light source node. It can take 6 seconds of communication hops. Considering additional factors, the estimation is actually only a few communication hops before the user notices the popcorn effect, for example when turning on or off the lighting. As an example, in a large-scale lighting system that can have hundreds of light source nodes, the number of communication hops is much greater than a few, and therefore visually undesirable while shifting the state of the light source Bring effect.

  With respect to the operation of the lighting system, FIG. 3 is described in combination with FIG. 2, which shows the steps of the method for controlling the lighting system 200. Initially, the light source nodes 21 to 27 are in the OFF state. At time T0, the user turns on the lighting switch and starts changing the state of the light source node from OFF to ON. In a first step 301, the light source nodes are time synchronized according to a method of time synchronization and timer interrupt matching. Instead, the light source node remains synchronized even in the OFF state. Time synchronization and timer break matching are maintained regardless of the fact that these are or are not commands to be transmitted, and are performed not only on the controller 20, for example, on any node in the network. Can be done.

  In step 302, the controller 20 determines whether there is a light source node in the predetermined operating area 30, and therefore whether there is a light source node in the room in which the controller 20 is provided. In the example shown, three light source nodes 21-23 are in this area 30. However, if there is no light source node within the predetermined operating area, the method proceeds to step 305, where a state shift command is communicated to the light source node.

  Next, in step 303, the controller 20 estimates the state shift delay of the operation nodes 21 to 23 arranged in the operation area 30. Here, the maximum communication delay is based on the number of communication hops between the controller and the light source node. The individual state shift transition times for each light source node are not considered because these light source nodes are of the same type. Here, the delay n is determined by the light source node having the maximum number of communication hops from the controller 20. This light source node is the light source node 23 provided with three communication hops from the controller 20 in the illustrated example.

  In the next step 304, the estimated state shift delay n is communicated by the controller 20 to the light source nodes 21 to 23 in the predetermined operation area 30. Instead, all light source nodes 21-27 receive a delay n, but only light source nodes within a predetermined operating area 30 consider the delay.

  In a later step 305 or at the same time as the step 304 of communicating the state shift delay n, a state shift command from OFF to ON is communicated to each of the operation nodes, so that the light source in the predetermined operation area 30 Each of the nodes wakes up simultaneously at T0 + n after the estimated delay. If the light source nodes are different types of light sources, additional delays are input into the algorithm, so that they are turned on at the same time, even if the light sources have essentially different start times (eg, different state shift transition times). Makes it possible to become. However, the remote light source nodes 24-27 outside the predetermined area 30 wake up when they receive the state shift command, and therefore in this case probably generate a popcorn effect, which is Perhaps it remains unnoticeable by the user.

  In an alternative embodiment where all light source nodes are included in a predetermined operating area, all light sources are turned on at T0 + n, thus possibly leading to the need to redetermine n. In other embodiments where the light source nodes are in a wired connection with a controller in the operating area, there are no communication delays using wired control, so these nodes will shift their state to T0 + n. Receive commands to request, or commands at T0 + n to instruct them to shift state immediately. Furthermore, the individual state shift transition times are also related to nodes connected via wiring.

  One skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention is not limited to these preferred embodiments. For example, although a state shift from OFF to ON has been mainly described, the method has been applied to other state shifts in the lighting system, such as ON to OFF, dimming, color change or color change speed. Also good. An individual state shift transition time may refer to, for example, a complete stop time, and there may be several predetermined operating areas.

  Such and other obvious modifications should be considered within the scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims. It should be noted that the above-described embodiments are illustrative rather than limiting the invention, and that those skilled in the art can design many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word “comprising” does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in a claim. The singular notation of an element does not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements. Moreover, a single unit may fulfill the functions of several means recited in the claims. Also, the disclosed method steps may be performed in any different order. In addition, any operational node may be configured to serve as a time master and time break alignment criteria.

Claims (13)

A method of controlling a lighting system configured as a network having a plurality of operational nodes configured to communicate with a controller and each other, comprising:
Synchronizing the operating node with the controller;
Determining a set of operation nodes arranged in a predetermined operation area from the plurality of operation nodes;
Estimating a state shift delay of the set of operation nodes arranged in the predetermined operation area;
Communicating the estimated state shift delay to the plurality of operational nodes;
Communicating a state shift command to the plurality of operational nodes.   The state shift delay is at least one of a state transition time of each operation mode and a maximum communication delay between the controller and the set of operation nodes arranged in the predetermined operation area. The method of claim 1.   The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the network is wireless, wired or a combination thereof.   The method of claim 3, wherein the wireless network is a wireless mesh network.   The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the operating nodes is configured to control a state shift of at least one light source.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the state shift command includes information for controlling at least one of beam width, color, dimming, beam direction, and intensity of the light source. .   7. The at least one set of operation nodes arranged in the predetermined operation area is adapted to take into account the state shift delay during execution of the state shift command. The method according to claim 1.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined operating area has at least two non-adjacent areas.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the state shift delay and the state shift command are communicated simultaneously.   The method according to claim 1, wherein the state shift command has an action node specific variable for generating a predetermined state shift pattern. A controller,
A plurality of operational nodes adapted to communicate with the controller;
The controller is
Initiating a synchronization procedure to synchronize the plurality of operational nodes with the controller;
Estimating a state shift delay between the controller and a set of operating nodes located within a predetermined operating area;
Communicating a maximum communication delay to the plurality of operating nodes;
A lighting system further adapted to communicate a state shift command to the plurality of operating nodes.   12. A lighting system according to claim 11, wherein at least one of the operating nodes comprises a control circuit for controlling an electrical connection between a light source and a power source.   13. An illumination system according to claim 11 or claim 12, wherein at least one of the operating nodes comprises means for controlling the illumination characteristics of the light source.

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